Vehicle Camera Lens Air Flow Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle imaging systems face challenges in maintaining clear camera lenses when exposed to rain, hail, snow, and dust, which can blur the field of view and diminish their functionality.
Innovation Solution
A camera module with an air flow guidance system that uses an air stream to deflect rain, hail, and snow away from the camera lens, utilizing either passive air funneling or active air stream generation with an electric fan, and optional heating and filtering to ensure the lens remains clear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera lens is exposed to exterior environment to capture images, then the imaging function is enabled, but rain, hail, snow and dust can impact the lens surface and blur the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
An air stream is introduced as an intermediary between the camera lens and the exterior environment. The air stream flows across the lens surface, creating a protective barrier that prevents rain, hail, snow and dust from directly contacting the lens while allowing the camera to continue capturing images of the exterior scene
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective structure is added to guide air flow over the camera lens, then debris protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs pneumatic principles by utilizing an air stream (generated either naturally through vehicle motion or by an air mover) to create a protective flow field over the camera lens. This approach avoids complex mechanical protective structures while achieving effective debris protection through controlled air flow dynamics
Solution Approach 2:
The system can utilize the vehicle's own motion to generate the protective air stream through natural airflow, eliminating the need for additional power sources or complex active control systems. The vehicle's forward movement creates sufficient air flow to protect the lens during normal operation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an air stream is used to protect the lens, then debris protection is improved, but energy consumption increases due to active air generation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts between passive and active air stream generation modes. During vehicle motion, the system utilizes natural airflow (passive mode) to protect the lens. When the vehicle is stationary or motion is insufficient, an air mover activates (active mode) to generate the protective air stream, thereby optimizing energy consumption based on operational conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively prevents debris from impacting the camera lens, maintaining a clear field of view and enhancing the reliability of vehicle imaging systems in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an air flow guidance system that uses an air stream to deflect rain, hail, and snow away from the camera lens
Implementation Method 2
optional heating and filtering to ensure the lens remains clear
Data Source
AI summary
A system for mitigating contamination of a lens of an exterior vehicular camera includes a passive air flow device disposed at the vehicle and configured to passively direct air flow across an outer surface of a lens of the camera to establish a passive air stream curtain. An active air flow device is operable to actively propel air across the outer surface of the lens of the camera to establish an active air stream curtain. A control is operable to activate and deactivate the active air flow device. When the vehicle is driven at a speed of travel below a threshold level, the control activates the active air flow device to actively propel air across the outer surface of the lens of the camera. When the vehicle is in motion, the passive air stream curtain deflects polluting particles away from the outer surface of the lens of the camera.